Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Mansfield | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,931Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | Peabody |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.